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Posted July 8, 2014 03:09 pm | Updated July 8, 2014 03:29 pm

Letters: What does the tea party want most of all? Special treatment!

VOTING RIGHTS ACT

We still need it

The United States Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act by doing away with Section 4, a provision of the Voting Rights Act that protected the voters in states with notoriously bad records of voter protection.

We continue to need these protections as new laws lead to the disenfranchisement of many citizens.

We are a mere 50 years from the signing of the Voting Rights Act. We need these protections to ensure our democracy remains strong and secure.

This is not a partisan issue.

This is an American issue.

Lawmakers must protect our most vulnerable eligible voters.

Glorious Johnson, Jacksonville

REPLY: CIVILITY

We need more of it

The editorial promoting interaction among different points of view is important.

I just hope people read it!

I appreciate the effort the Times-Union is making toward civil discussions.

Barbara Bennett, Jacksonville

TEA PARTY AND IRS

Scrutiny is deserved

Whenever I give to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emily’s List, Move On.Org, the ACLU or any Democratic candidate, their campaign literature clearly states “contributions are not tax deductible.”

Now comes the writer of “Tea party explained,” listing 14 things he wants the government to do for him. If this is not political speech, I don’t know what is.

It certainly is cause for extra scrutiny by the IRS when the tea party asks for tax-exempt status.

What makes tea party people think they can say the things they do and not consider it political speech?

IRS did not have to make excuses for investigating the application of the tea party for tax exempt status.

Democrats do not try to do this.

If they did, they would expect the same treatment. It is the job of the IRS to collect all taxes due.

Maybe this explains a lot.

Democrats try to help.

Republicans do everything they can to get around the rules.

Bruce Mize, Jacksonville

TEA PARTY

Tyranny of a minority

I was happy to read the main beliefs of the tea party.

Even as a lifelong Democrat, I agree with most of the principles.

The problem is how the tea party proposes to carry out those principles.

Instead of the principle that we live in a democracy and need to work together, the tea party believes that it should shut down our government, renege on our debt and refuse to compromise.

This is simply un-American.

Let’s work together again.

John Taylor, Amelia Island

FLORIDA’S AMENDMENT ONE

Vote for the environment

Floridians will have the opportunity this November to speak up about some critical issues facing all of us in the state, specifically whether we want to ensure clean water now and into the future through passage of Amendment One.

The aquifer, North and Central Florida’s source of drinking water, is maxing out.

Entire communities are searching for ways to satisfy their growing water needs.

Floridians have supported amendments aiming to protect our land and water.

Support for these endeavors dates back to the early 1990s when the Florida Legislature complied with voters’ wishes by providing $300 million annually for Florida Forever and Preservation 2000.

The state set aside an additional $100 million each year to match federal funding for Everglades restoration, too.

For the last two decades, the funding for Florida Forever and Preservation 2000 has come from one-third of the documentary stamp tax assessed on real estate transactions. Amendment One would continue that tradition for 20 years, at which point the amendment would sunset.

Deep funding cuts in the last couple of years have put the great work Floridians have been doing for decades to protect our waters and restore important conservation lands in serious jeopardy.

This amendment would safeguard the funding necessary to keep our water abundant and clean and to protect Florida’s beaches, springs and other natural areas for future generations.

Please vote yes for Amendment One!

Lisa Williams, Jacksonville

OBAMA AND IMMIGRANTS

Like Bush and Katrina

According to the White House, President Barack Obama’s trip to Texas this week to raise money for Democratic candidates will not include a trip to the southern border to review the problems of the thousands of children and women who have crossed the border this year.

Unbelievable!

In times of crises such as this one, the president of the United States needs to show leadership.

The president needs to take charge!

If he doesn’t go, he will be criticized by both the Democrats and Republicans.

Remember: President George W. Bush was hammered for not immediately going to New Orleans to confront the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

Jack E. Wroten, Jacksonville

Letters: What does the tea party want most of all? Special treatment!

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I’m writing this to Shad Khan — who came to the United States as an immigrant and has enjoyed success in this great nation — and the athletes he employs on that pathetic team he owns called the Jacksonville Jaguars:

In the wake of the recent catastrophic storms like hurricanes Harvey and Irma, it is essential we continue to look at all avenues to bolster Florida’s business and economic opportunities that create a robust private market that includes fair and adequate catastrophic insurance coverage.